President Museveni has lauded retired General Caleb Akandwanaho, popularly known as Salim Saleh, for his lifelong dedication to Uganda, describing him as a quintessential role model for the country’s youth.
The President’s remarks came during the ongoing retreat for newly elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
During the event, the President laid the foundation stone for the Gen. (Rtd). Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh) School of Research and the Walter Rodney Block.
Reflecting on the history of the liberation struggle, Museveni detailed how a teenage Saleh abandoned his studies to join the resistance.
"People like Saleh should act as good examples to you young people to show you what patriotism means," the President told the legislators.
"Saleh joined us in the war against Idi Amin in 1976 when he was just 16 years old. He ran away from school at Kako and joined us in Tanzania."
The President credited Saleh with commanding pivotal battles between 1981 and 1986, including strategic operations in Masindi, Kabamba, Masaka, and Kampala.
Beyond the battlefield, Museveni highlighted Saleh’s transition into a champion of economic transformation, noting his leadership in the Kapeka industrial hub and his efforts in wealth creation within the coffee sector and Northern Uganda.
Shifting his focus to contemporary challenges, Museveni issued a blistering warning to public officials involved in graft, signaling a more aggressive phase in the government’s fight against corruption.
"The corrupt are now in danger and will be dealt with. You cannot underestimate us. You will see what will happen," he said.
He urged lawmakers to remain on the frontline of integrity, advising them to seek official support for personal financial challenges rather than resorting to bribery.
The President cautioned that those found guilty risk losing their parliamentary seats.
"We are going to finish this corruption," he emphasized.
Drawing a metaphor from religion, Museveni likened the Kyankwanzi retreat to a place of ideological renewal. He said just as believers go to places of worship to strengthen their faith, NRM cadres must treat such retreats as a “seminary” to reaffirm their commitment to the party’s principles.
On the broader continental stage, the President reiterated that Africa’s prosperity hinges on unity and economic integration. He argued that fragmented markets and weak infrastructure remain the continent’s biggest barriers to growth.
Paying tribute to Julius Nyerere and Benjamin Mkapa, Museveni called for deeper integration within the East African Community (EAC), warning that the region risks stagnation without a unified economic front.